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Board debates who should pay $149,000 for fire hydrants as contract talks continue
Summary
A lengthy board discussion focused on a roughly $149,000 annual charge for fire hydrants and whether the town, the fire territory levy or the water company should bear the cost; members asked for itemized budgets and scheduled follow-up with fire‑territory representatives.
The French Lick Town Board spent an extended portion of its meeting debating who should pay an approximately $149,000 annual charge related to fire hydrants and related services.
Board members discussed three primary options: the town continuing to pay the amount from its budget, shifting the cost into the fire territory levy, or collection through utility rates via the water company. Members noted each option has tradeoffs: charging through property taxes reduces municipal flexibility for other priorities, while adding rates to utility bills would increase monthly bills for customers.
Several members asked for more information before any decision. They requested an itemized budget from the fire territory and a clearer contract that describes who is responsible for hydrant costs. The board agreed to meet with West Ben and the fire‑territory representatives, including an upcoming session with a representative named Aaron, to review budget allocations and contractual language.
Board members emphasized the practical stakes. One participant said stopping town payments would force other parties to "figure it out," and members acknowledged that moving the cost into an existing levy may be legally or politically difficult without reallocation within the fire territory's budget. The discussion included references to prior negotiations and uncertainties about whether the levy historically included this charge.
Why it matters: the allocation decision could add as much as $149,000 a year to the town’s budget or shift costs to residents via higher utility bills or property taxes. The board did not adopt a resolution at this meeting but asked staff to gather the full contract documents and itemized spending for review.
What happens next: the board will follow up at a scheduled meeting with West Ben and fire‑territory officials to review the contract and the fire territory’s budget line items and to consider options for reallocating or absorbing the cost.
The meeting then moved to public comments.
